Fiji tourism boosted by cyclone

Fiji tourism boosted by cyclone
By Tara Harrison


Fiji has reported record arrival figures for this year despite Cyclone Winston and instead because of the disaster.

The industry rallied following the cyclone in February and their appeal to travellers to continue coming has been credited with a 10.2% increase in arrivals for the first quarter of 2016.

Prime Minister Bainimarama opened the third Fijian Tourism Expo (FTE) this morning and described the cyclone as a huge setback for the nation but not for tourism.

“You might expect us to be significantly down given the destruction, I am proud to say this is not the case at all.”

“We have turned a potential loss for the industry into a significant victory.”

The figures are a testament to the industry’s response in minimising the damage following the cyclone, the Prime Minister said.

“It shows us what we can do if we pull our resources… no matter how daunting,” Bainimarama said.

“We came together as a team – the government, Fiji Tourism and Fiji Airways – to take an urgent message to the world that while much of the country was reeling… Fiji was open for business,” Bainimarama said.

“The best way to assist us is for people to come visit us in an act of solidarity… It worked. It has been a textbook example of teamwork in a crisis.”

With 44 deaths and 40,000 properties damaged, just 9% of Fiji’s 400 hotels were closed.

“Whatever the extent of the current trauma we have much to be grateful for as Winston spared the vast majority of our tourism properties,” Bainimarama said.

The Prime Minister said that the economy has proven to be remarkably resilient and tourism is leading the way.

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